Newcastle admit they are closing in on Loic Remy and Aston Villa’s Darren Bent

Controversial new Newcastle United director of football Joe Kinnear has revealed that the north east club are closing in on agreements for both QPR’s Loic Remy and Darren Bent of Aston Villa.

Both men have been strongly linked with the Magpies and Kinnear has confirmed that negotiations are under way and confirmation should be released within a week.

“Yeah I think very much, so I would like to think we are very, very close to agreeing that [a deal for Remy],” the former Toon boss told Sky Sports News.

“I would think maybe Monday or Tuesday we will be a position to say yea or nay, but I am very happy about how that deal is going at the moment.

“We were with Darren’s agent for two or three hours, we thrashed out a deal

“We are still in negotiations with Aston Villa so there is a really strong possibility there.

“These are players that me and Alan [Pardew] have spoken about. These are players that we’ve all agreed at the club are the type of player we want to bring to Newcastle.”

After having to spend the second half of last season with only Papiss Cisse leading the line at St James’ Park, following the departure of Demba Ba to Chelsea, it suddenly seems their could be an influx of forwards at Newcastle.

The club are also in talks with Olympique Lyon over a deal for France international Bafetimbi Gomis, who has played with Remy for the national side.

There is room for the argument that the four attackers – the Magpies’ three targets and current hit-man Cisse – are too similar in their style of play and that not all could be kept happy.

However, that would certainly be a welcome headache for Pardew and fans at the club would be pleased to see four international forwards plying their trade at Newcastle.